Method of cleaning looms



April 25, 1961 M. s. FAIN METHOD OF CLEANING LOOMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed April 23, 1956 INVENTOR. MITCHELL S. FAIN ATTO R N EY April 25,1961 M. s. FAlN 2,931,644

METHOD OF CLEANING 'LOOMS Filed April 25, 1956 4-- Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.2.

k INVENTOR: L kt MITCHELL s. FAIN ATTORNEY.

April 25, 1961 s, N 2,981,644

METHOD OF CLEANING. LOOMS Filed April 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR.

MITCHELL 3. FAN

A T TORNE Y.

April 25, 1961 M. s. FAIN 2,931,644

METHOD OF CLEANING LOOMS Filed April 25, 1956 4-,shets-sneet 4 INVENTOR:

MITCHELL S. FAIN M/Z) C ATTORNEY- METHOD OF CLEANING LOOMS Mitchell S.Fain, Providence, R.I., assignor to Grinnell Corporation, Providence,R.I., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 23, 1956, Ser. No. 579,914

2 Claims. (Cl. 134-37) utilizes cleaning apparatus adapted to pass oversuch machinery, and discharge downwardly thereagainst from a nozzle, anair stream of relatively high velocity, while the nozzle is rotatedabout an axis to move the stream back andforth across the material andmachinery transverse to'the direction of travel of the apparatus, bydirecting said stream in a generally circular or elliptical path so thateach filament of the central portion of the stream, and primarily theaxis of said stream, is directed against the material at an angle to thegeneral plane thereof which is advantageous for cleaning.

It has been found that the removal of lint, iiy and the like fromcertain types of machines and especially from the material beingprocessed thereby may be achieved by overhead travelling cleaningapparatus which discharges a stream of air at high velocity against suchmachines and material. For example, textile looms, the yarns thereon andthe cloth being woven from such yarns are particularly well adapted forcleaning by such a stream to prevent the accumulation of such lint andsimilar foreign matter which would interfere with proper loom opera tionand have an adverse effect on the quality and uniformity of the cloth. ii

It has been known that this air stream should be of relatively highvelocity because machinery such as textile looms and especially thewoven cloth thereon requires ,a stronger air blast for proper cleaningthan some other types of machines and material in this art, asforexample,

spinning machines. Furthermore, in the case of looms atent 2 rotatingstream against the material at an angle to this plane which is alwayssubstantially less than 90, at least throughout the movement of thestream in one direction transverse to the path offapparatus travel.

In addition I have discovered that when the stream is made to rotate atan inclined angle continuously about an axis in one rotative directionvery rapid air stream movement can be achieved and each portion ofmaterial and machinery to be cleaned feels a succession of sharp pulisof air as the apparatus passes by, a condition which results inexcellentcleaning. Accordingly another object is to provide a novel airmovement in which the stream is applied to any given portion of thematerial and machinery to be cleaned, in the, form of a succession rofrapid sharp putts of air, byrapidly and'continuously 'ro- .tating saidstream in one rotative direction about an axis.

Further, I have discovered that when the stream being directed towardthe material and machinery to be cleaned lies at an inclined angle tothe plane of the material of substantially less than 90. thecontinuously rotatingstream may be made to impinge against (the materialand :machinery in substantially every rotative position. Accordingly itis anotherobject to direct said stream at such an angle to saidmaterialwhereby the axis :of the stream if not moving alongthe machinery definesa hollow cone like figure in the space between the apparatus andmaterial, and whereby the engagement of the axis of the material by thestream at a given instant follows a path called a curtate cycloid whichis defined by the intersection of this moving cone-like figure with theplane of 'the material, and thus permits the air stream at least twoopportunities to clean away a particle of dirt in a single pass of thecleaner.

Another object is to move the cleaningairstream with relation to thegeneral plane of the material to be cleaned, whereby the engagement ofthis plane by the axis of the stream at a given instant follows a pathover such plane substantially in the form of a-curtate'cycloid, andwhereby the angle at which the axis of theair'stream engages the planeis substantially less than 90 and, remains sub stantially constant forall rotative positions of the stream about the axis. I Another object isto directthe cleaning airstream' so that it always has a horizontalcomponent of force of considerable degree as well as a verticalcomponent, with relation to the' plane of thematerial, beforeitimpingeson the material and machinery and is dispersed thereby.

Still further objects will appear hereinafter. A a

The best mode. in which it has been contemplated I applying theprinciples of the presentinvention are shown in the accompanyingdrawingsabut the latter are robe deemed merel y'illnstra tive becauseitisintended thatithe patent shall cover by suitable expression intlieappended claims whateverfeatures of pa tentable' novelty exist im-theinvention disclosed.

F'gure lisa perspective view showing a ,preierredqform of apparatusmounted on a track in the process of carry-- insuch amanner across thepath of travelof theapparatus that every part of the machinery andmaterial wilhbe swept each time the apparatus passes i Y The presentinventionprovides a novel air stream move} ment in which this necessarycoverage motion is accomplished by rotatingthe stream about an axis andin Whichthis'motion is accompanied by the added feature angle withrespect to the material ,to' be cleaned.

Thus, l'hav'e discovered that when this material lies lines 3 3 and444,1 respectively of Figure-2; f

apparatus taken on line 5+5 of l=igure .2; l.

Figures 6 and7 are.cross section plan views'of a;por that the airin thestream is-di scharged at an advantageous I tion of the apparatns.spectively, ofFigure), i

70, Figure 8 is a perspective yiew of the nozzle and lower; generally ina plane, as suggested above, superior clean ing is achieved by directingthe centrallportionxof the more clearly the various f ingout my novelInethoc ipf cleaning a textile loom; t

, Figure; 2 is a side elevation view 'of zthe'cleaning-ap paraltusj ofFigure l, with selected portions broken away;

i Figures 3 and 4 are cross section endviewsj takeniom jifFigure 5 is a.crosssection end view of a portion of duct end withpart of the latterbroken awamos o;

the r Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing the pivotal connection ofthe nozzle torthe duct.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows, inperspective,a preferred form of the apparatus for carrying out myinvention and a textile loom being cleaned thereby. The apparatus ofthis preferred form is adapted to travel alonga track '10 which issupported from above the loom by depending rods 12 having their upperends secured to'fixed overhead structure (not shown); Preferably thetrack is oriented so that in travelling along it the'apparatus moveslongitudinally with respect to the loom and at substantially a constantheight thereabo've.

'Inthe embodiment shown the track is formed of ordinary channel framinghaving tapped holes 14 (see Fig. 2) in the upper flange 16 to receivethe threaded lower'ends 18 of the supporting rods 12. The upper flatsurface 20 of this same flange 16 is engaged by the supporting'wheels 22(see Fig. 3) of the travelling apparatus,

each of these wheels being rotatable on the enlarged end 24 of a shortaxle 26. The other smaller end 28 of each suchaxle is passed through ahole 29 in the upper end of a frame member 30 and is provided with a nut32 threaded thereon. The transition ofthe axle diameter from theenlarged end 24 to the smaller end 28 provides a shoulder 34 whichclamps the'end wall 36 of an apertured cup member 38 tightly against theframe member 30 when thenut 32 is tightened. The cylindrical side walls40 of thecup member 38 overlie a portion of the supporting wheel to apoint adjacent the edge 42 of flange surface 20. 'By providing the framemembers 30 in pairs, with the members 30 in each pair being located onopposite sides of the'track, the cup members 38 keep the supportingwheels on the track and prevent them from striking the track supportingrods 12.on the opposite sides of which the wheels pass.

outer side portion 84 of each casing is provided with a central opening92 which serves as an intake for air which is drawn into the casing bythe rotating fan member and forced downwardly through duct 88. a

The two casings 82 are secured to the bracket 70 by welds 94 or othersuitable means.

The circular lower end 90' ofeach duct 88 has a nozzle 96 pivotallymounted thereon by the provision of a flat bar member 98 (see Figs. 6, 8and 9) extending diamet rically across the interior duct passage withone edge presented to the downward flow of air therethrough and with ashort shaft 100 welded to the opposite edge and extending downwardlytherefrom centrally with respect to the circular duct end 90.'Similarly, the upper end of the nozzle 96 is provided with another barmember 102 extending across the nozzle passage with a central aperturedhub 104 adapted to loosely receive the shaft 100 and be held thereon bynuts 106 threaded onthe shaft end. By this arrangement the nozzle 96 iscapable of free rotation with respect to the duct and about the axis 108thereof.

Such rotation is achieved by providing the bar 102 in the form of apropeller, for example by causing the bar ends to be slightly, butoppositely, twisted substantially as shown. Air driven downwardly in theduct 88 by the fan 76 rotates the nozzle as it passes over the propellersurfaces. As shown in Fig. 2, the nozzle is disposed so The apparatusshown has two pairs of frame members- 30 which extend downward below thelower track flange 44 and turn inward, as at 46, to form horizontalportions which are dove-tailed and secured together in eaeh'pair by abolt.'48. These bolts also serve to fasten tox'the frame members a platecarrying at one end onjtsunderside a reduction gear unit 52 secured tothe plate 50 by bolts 53. The gear unit is driven by an elec tric motor54 mounted thereon and has a power take-01f shaft 56 (see Fig. 3)extending outward beyondone side of the plate 50 at substantially rightangles to the track 1011 The shaft 56 is provided with a sheave 58adapted to drivea V-belt 60 which in turn drives another sheave 62mounted onashaft '64 (see Fig. 4) journaled in bearings 66 mounted 'onthe upper surface of plate 50. Intermediate these bearings and directlybelow the under surface of the track flange 44 is a rubber orrubber-like drive wheel 68 secured to the shaft 64 and'engaging' thetrack flange 44.- By this arrangement the motor 54 propels the apparatusalongthe track] the end of the plate 50 remote from the reduction gearunit 52 and motor 54 a bracket 70 (see Figs. 2 and 5) is bolted to theunderside of this plate to provide a mounting for a second electricmotor 72 disposed below this bracket and securedthereto by bolts 74. Theshaft 77 of this second motor is 'oriented at right anglesfto" the track10 and'has both *itsfends extending outside ,the motor casing to receivefan members 76 suitably secured on:thes*e'shaft ends by'se'rews 78 andkeys 80 so asto be driven by the mot'or 72. Each fan member 76 is housedin a casing'82having flatside portions 84 positioned close to thefan'member o'njeither side thereof and having a curved edge portion 86'positionedclose to the periphery of' the'fan member at the undersideof-the casing and. curving with, but diverging fro'nnthefan peripheryeventually' toform a downwardly extending tangential duct that its upperflanged edge is close to the lower edge of the duct thereby preventingany appreciable leakage of air between these members. If it is desiredthe duct may have an outside diameter slightly smaller than the insidediameter of the upper nozzle end and may extend a short distance intothis nozzle end to further prevent such leakage.

- lower end and of such length that substantially every part of themoving air entering the nozzle from the duct has its direction changedto a new direction at an angle to the axis 108. If the nozzle 96 is ofsufficient length this 7 new direction may be parallel to the nozzleaxis 112.

For short nozzles the new direction may form a some- '7 the motors 54and 72 are provided with electric energywhat smaller angle with the ductaxis 112, for example, along the line 112a (see Fig. .1). Aweight 113(see Fig. 2) is secured to the nozzle to balance it about its pivot.

From the description thus far it will be seen that when the apparatuswill be driven along the track, for example, in the direction of thearrow 114 in Fig. l, streams-of air will be discharged from the nozzles96 and these nozzles will be'rotated about the duct axes 108 to causeplane moves'overthe plane in a substantially circular path modified intowhat will be termed herein a curtate.

881*initially of rectangular cross section, but having its lower end 90converted to a circular cross section. The

the streams to move over objects, below;' When these objects he more orless in a p ane which is generally perpendicular to, the axis ofrotation 108, as is the case, for example, of the yarns and cloth in thetextile loom shown in Fig. l, the axis of theair stream impinging on,this cycloid because of the progression of the apparatus along the trackrelative to the circuit movement of the airstream. This is illustratedin Fig. 1. where the dotted lines '116'represent the boundaries of thecenter portion of the airstream 117 having the'cent'ral axis 112, andthe dotted circle 118 represents the area against which this portion ofthe streamlimpinges when the near nozzle is in'the position shown. 'Thedotted line'120 represents that path ofmovement of the center of thisarea for two nozzle revolutions, tracing the path referred to. Referringagain to the electric motors 54 and 72, these receive their electricenergy from brush contacts (see Fig. 3) mounted in the frame members 30and spring loaded against bar conductors 132 which are in turn mountedon an insulator block 134 secured to the Web of the channel track 10.Cables 136 connect the brush contacts to the motors.

With reference to the objects it will be seen from Fig. 1 that eachfilament in the central portion of the rotating stream, is directed atan angle (for example angles B, B and B to the general plane of thecloth which is substantially less than 90, both when the stream ismoving from front to back of the machine (see arrow 138) and when thestream is moving from back to front (see arrow 140). Because of thecone-like figure generated by the rotating stream, it will beappreciated that the axis of rotation need not be exactly perpendicularto the cloth, as shown, as long as the stream engages the cloththroughout the complete extent of such movement at an anglesubstantially less than 90. Such engagement assures excellent cleaning.

It will also be seen that very rapid air stream movement can be achievedby continuous rotation of the nozzle in one rotative direction, forexample, nozzle speeds up to 1000 r.p.m. At such high speeds the airwill impinge as a rapid succession of sharp puffs against any given areaas the apparatus passes. This has also been found to result in excellentcleaning.

Iclaim:

l. The method of removing lint from looms arranged in a row, and fromthe yarns and material being processed thereby, said yarns and materiallying in a substantially horizontal plane, said method comprising thesteps of creating a high velocity stream of air from a source, directingsaid stream downwardly onto said looms at an angle substantially lessthan 90 to the said plane of the yarns and materials, rotating saidstream continuously in one direction so that its axis generates aconical surface of revolution with said axis always being at an angle tosaid plane, moving said source over and parallel to said row at a ratecausing the said airstrearn to intersect said plane in a closelyoverlapping circuitous path whose configuration is substantially that ofa curtate cycloid and causing said air stream to substantially strike apoint on said plane along the path of travel of and beneath said sourceat least twice, once during movement along the forward portion of itscircuitous path and once during movement along the rearward portion ofits circuitous path thus impinging said air stream on any given portionof the object being cleaned as a series of sharp rapid pulls havingvertical and horizontal components with respect to said plane prior tosaid impingement.

2. The method of removing lint from looms arranged in a row, and fromthe yarns and material being processed thereby, said yarns and materiallying in a substantially horizontal plane, said method comprising thesteps of creating a high velocity stream of air from a source directingsaid stream downwardly onto said looms at an angle substantially lessthan to the said plane of the yarns and materials, rotating said streamcon tinuously in one direction While maintaining said angle to saidplane constant, moving said source over and parallel to said row at arate causing the said airstream to intersect said plane in a closelyoverlapping circuitous path whose configuration is substantially that ofa curtate cycloid and causing said air stream to substantially strike apoint on said plane along the path of travel of and beneath-said sourceat least twice, once during movement along the forward portion of itscircuitous path and once during movement along the rearward portion ofits circuitous path thus impinging said air stream on any given portionof the object being cleaned as a series of sharp rapid puffs havingconstant vertical and horizontal com ponents with respect to said planeprior to said impingement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,000,112 Wheller May 7, 1935 2,325,023 Allred July 27, 1943 2,516,475Miller et al. July 25, 1950 2,602,003 Wellborn July 1, 1952 2,695,039Holtzclaw Nov. 23, 1954 2,814,176 Bowie Nov. 26, 1957 2,845,303 KingJuly 29, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 267,656 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1927 OTHERREFERENCES Textile World adv. by American Monorail Co., January 1955,page 138.

Textile World adv. by Bahnson Co., October 1955, page 172.

Patent N00 2 98l 644 UNITED $TATES PATENT. OFFICE I GERTIFICATE OFGORREQTIeN April 25 1961 Mitchell SQ Fain It is hereby certified thaterror appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and thatthe said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column l line 65 strike out motion; column 2 line 27 strike out axis ofthe" and insert the same after the in line 28 same eolumn 2; column 6line l0 after "'source insert a comma Signed and sealed this 20th day ofMarch 1962a (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

1. THE METHOD OF REMOVING LINT FROM LOOMS ARRANGED IN A ROW, AND FROMTHE YARNS AND MATERIAL BEING PROCESSED THEREBY, SAID YARNS AND MATERIALLYING IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THESTEPS OF CREATING A HIGH VELOCITY STREAM OF AIR FROM A SOURCE, DIRECTINGSAID STREAM DOWNWARDLY ONTO SAID LOOMS AT AN ANGLE SUBSTANTIALLY LESSTHAN 90* TO THE SAID PLANE OF THE YARNS AND MATERIALS, ROTATING SAIDSTREAM CONTINUOUSLY IN ONE DIRECTION SO THAT ITS AXIS GENERATES ACONICAL SURFACE OF REVOLUTION WITH SAID AXIS ALWAYS BEING AT AN ANGLE TOSAID PLANE, MOVING SAID SOURCE OVER AND PARALLEL TO SAID ROW AT A RATECAUSING THE SAID AIRSTREAM TO INTERSECT SAID PLANE IN A CLOSELYOVERLAPPING CIRCUITOUS PATH WHOSE CONFIGURATION IS SUBSTANTIALLY THAT OFA CURTATE CYCLOID AND CAUSING SAID AIR STREAM TO SUBSTANTIALLY STRIKE APOINT ON SAID PLANE ALONG THE PATH OF TRAVEL OF AND BENEATH SAID SOURCEAT LEAST TWICE, ONCE DURING MOVEMENT ALONG THE FORWARD PORTION OF ITSCIRCUITOUS PATH AND ONCE DURING MOVEMENT ALONG THE REARWARD PORTION OFITS CIRCUITOUS PATH THUS IMPINGING SAID AIR STREAM ON ANY GIVEN PORTIONOF THE OBJECT BEING CLEANED AS A SERIES OF SHARP RAPID